Subsidiary Motions. Part 3

Description

Subsidiary Motions. Part 3

To Amend

23. To Amend. This motion takes precedence of nothing but the question
which it proposed to amend, and yields to any Privileged [§ 9], Incidental [§ 8] or Subsidiary [§ 7] Question, except to
Indefinitely Postpone. It can be amended itself, but this "amendment of an
amendment" cannot be amended. An Amendment may be inconsistent with one
already adopted, or may directly conflict with the spirit of the
original motion, but it must have a direct bearing upon the subject of
that motion. To illustrate: a motion for a vote of thanks could be
amended by substituting for "thanks" the word "censure;" or one condemning
certain customs could be amended by adding other customs.

An Amendment may be in any of the following forms: (a) to "add or
insert" certain words or paragraphs; (b) to "strike out" certain words
or paragraphs, the question, however, being stated by the Chair thus:
"Shall these words (or paragraphs) stand as a part of the resolution?"
and if this is adopted (that is, the motion to "strike out," fails) it
does not preclude either amendment or a motion to "strike out and
insert;" (c) "to strike certain words and insert others," which motion
is indivisible, and if lost does not preclude another motion to strike out the same words and insert different ones;
(d) to "substitute" another motion on the same subject for the one
pending; (e) to "divide the question" into two or more questions, as the
mover specifies, so as to get a separate vote on any particular point or
points [see § 4].

If a paragraph is inserted it should be perfected by its friends
previous to voting on it, as when once inserted it cannot be struck out
or amended except by adding to it. The same is true in regard to words
to be inserted in a resolution, as when once inserted they cannot be
struck out, except by a motion to strike out the paragraph, or such a
portion of it as shall make the question an entirely different one from
that of inserting the particular words. The principle involved is that
when the assembly has voted that certain words shall form a part of a
resolution, it is not in order to make another motion which involves
exactly the same question as the one they have decided. The only way to
bring it up again is to move a Reconsideration [§ 27] of the vote by
which the words were inserted.

In stating the question on an Amendment the Chairman should read (1) the
passage to be amended; (2) the words to be struck out, if any; (3) the
words to be inserted, if any; and (4) the whole passage as it will stand
if the amendment is adopted. [For amending reports of committees, and
propositions containing several paragraphs, see § 44.]

The numbers prefixed to paragraphs are only marginal indications, and
should be corrected, if necessary, by the clerk, without any motion to
amend.